Counties Blocked From Collecting Recycling Fees (via @JennaPortnoy)

"Counties rely on landfill fees to pay for such activities, but since Gov. Tom Corbett took office, the state Department of Environmental Protection has thwarted counties' efforts to collect the fees.

"DEP says we still need to reach our recycling goals, but they've effectively tied our hands behind our back with the funding," said Duane Dellecker, solid waste director in Carbon County, which accepts 3 million tons of cans and bottles annually and runs year-round tire recycling.

The fees provided $6.8 million in revenue to 37 counties in 2008, an analysis from the nonprofit advocacy group PennEnvironment shows. Locally, about $100,000 is at stake in Northampton County and $120,000 in Carbon County.

DEP letters to Northampton County say the county is not following the letter of the law regarding the fee. DEP Spokesman Kevin Sunday said Friday that people familiar with the department's policy were unavailable for comment."

Current Comments

There is not enough information in this article. Do the recycling companies make money picking up the cans and bottles? If they do then they don't need the fees and they are being greedy. If they don't then maybe they need the fees to continue to recycle. Please elaborate.